The Colts are in search of who will replace quarterback Phillip Rivers in Indianapolis next season.
The obvious answer seemed to be Georgia Bulldog great Matt Stafford, but that ship has since sailed after the former No. 1 overall pick was dealt to Los Angeles in exchange for Jared Goff and some draft picks on Saturday.
The Colts now face three options: Promote from within, look to free agency or a potential trade, or use an early draft pick on someone who can become the future of the franchise.
But let’s not forget that Indianapolis spent a mid-round pick on former Georgia and Washington quarterback Jacob Eason last year, taking the 6-foot-6 signal caller with the 122nd overall pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Could he be an option next year for the Colts? Former Georgia wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who played two seasons with Eason in Athens, likes the first option – promote from within.
On Friday, Hardman tweeted that the Colts should look to Eason to be their guy under center next season.
Colts got @skinnyqb10 !!! He should be next man up !!!
— Mecole Hardman Jr. (@MecoleHardman4) January 29, 2021
After transferring from Georgia at the end of the 2017 season, Eason sat out a year due to NCAA rules and then started the 2019 season at quarterback for the Washington Huskies.
At Washington in 2019, Eason led the Huskies to an 8-5 record, throwing for 3,132 yards with 23 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Eason was projected as one of the top 5 quarterbacks in last year’s draft, but, along with former teammate Jake Fromm, was forced to wait a bit longer to hear his name called and was eventually taken in the fourth round.